CAMPBELL ADVOCATES SALES TAX, NOT FLAT TAX

HE SAYS GIVING DRUGS TO ADDICTS COULD CURB CRIME

WALNUT CREEK -- Rep. Tom Campbell, the leading Republican candidate for
U.S. Senate, on Monday said he backs government distribution of illegal
drugs to addicts as a way to curb crime, and called for replacing the
federal income tax system with a national sales tax of 20 percent.

In a meeting with Contra Costa Times editors and reporters, the congressman
from Campbell asked, ``Why not take those who are already addicted and give
them the drug?''

On his tax proposal, Campbell said he would eliminate the personal income
tax. The revenue would instead be collected through taxes on sales, a plan
he acknowledged would be ``a tough sell.''

Campbell's support of both controversial proposals is not new, but now that
he is a candidate for U.S. Senate, it is getting more scrutiny.

In the March primary, Campbell will face state Sen. Ray Haynes,
R-Riverside, San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn and J.P. Gough, an
Orange County banking consultant.

Campbell campaign spokesman Suhail Khan said the congressman ran Bay Area
radio ads earlier this year, before announcing his Senate candidacy,
discussing the drug distribution and national sales tax plans.

``The idea was to take a fresh look at different issues,'' Khan said.

Campbell's support of a national sales tax dates back a couple of years ago
when Bill Archer, R-Texas, and Billy Tauzin, R-La., championed the
abolishment of the IRS in favor of a national sales tax. Campbell also has
said such a tax promotes savings and investment.

The drug proposal issue surfaced again Monday when Campbell was asked his
ideas for reducing crime. He said much violent crime can be tracked back to
drugs -- either users stealing to raise money or dealers fighting for turf.

He proposed allowing state and local governments to set up distribution
centers where users could consume drugs on the premises. There, they would
also be offered help to cure them of their addictions.

``I don't know if it will work,'' he said, ``but I do know that the present
system is not successful.''

Campbell has also called for tougher sentencing for drug dealers who sell
to children.

Khan said Campbell ``had actually looked into legislation and was still
pursuing different ideas.''

Under the sales-tax plan, food and medicine would be exempted -- as would
housing prices up to the median price of homes. Corporate income and Social
Security taxes would remain in place.

Campbell said the plan would offer less intrusion into personal lives by
the Internal Revenue Service. He said he favored it over a flat income tax
like that proposed by Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes. ``My
fear is the flat tax doesn't stay flat for long,'' he said.

Responding Monday night, Haynes denounced the drug proposal as
``wrong-headed'' and ``offensive.''

Drug addicts should be punished for their crimes, he said, not rewarded
with government-sanctioned support for their habits.